1. Plantronics BackBeat FIT
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Whether you want to wear them when you are training, swimming, working, or just walking, the BackBeat FIT is ideal as it can be worn in all conditions. What recommends it is the high water and dust resistance rating. The eartip has an open design that ensures you won’t be oblivious to your surroundings, thus helping you stay safe. Designed with flexibility in mind, you are sure to wear them for hours on end without feeling discomforted, getting the boost in proactivity that only listening to music can offer.
Water Resistance
As it boasts an IP57 water resistance rating, you can wear it when you swim or when you work out and you know that you are going to sweat excessively. What this rating shows is that it can resist in fresh water up to one meter deep for approximately 30 minutes. Just make sure you don’t wear it when you swim in salt water and don’t exceed the 1-meter limit as the pressure will inevitably produce damage.
Runtime
What provides them with power is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is non-replaceable. It takes a maximum of two hours for it to completely charge, and when it is full of “juice”, it allows you to listen to music for up to 8 hours without interruption, and talk on the phone for approximately 6 hours. Another aspect worth knowing is that when they are set on the standby mode, they provide up to 14 days of runtime.
Mention-Worthy Features and Specs
- Integrated on-ear controls provide a convenient manner to turn the volume up or down, answer calls, and choose songs.
- P2i nano-coating is what enhances their sweat and water resistance.
- Available in 5 different color options to suit your style – fuchsia, power blue, stealth green, sport grey, black.
Comfort
Comfort is a quintessential aspect to consider as it shows whether or not you will actually like wearing the earbuds when doing various activities. As aforementioned, their design is quite flexible, which means that you can share them with others if you choose so, and that they are sure to fit you comfortably without slipping. To make sure that the tip will remain in your ear throughout your music listening session, it features silicon covering and a small loop.
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CONS
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- IP57 rating withstands heavy rain or other unfavorable conditions
- Battery provides up to 8 hours of continuous music
- Quick charge feature boosts battery power in only 15 minutes
- Features P2i nano-coating which further enhances its weatherproof characteristics
- Behind the ear design is very comfortable
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| VERDICT
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As it is comfortable to wear and it provides more than enough listening time, the BackBeat headset is our top recommendation to music lovers. Furthermore, as opposed to other products which only promise to deliver water proofing but in reality fail to do so, it actually boasts an IP57 rating, and features a P2i nano-coating that does not allow issues to arise if you are wearing it while swimming, for example.
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A combination entry that swimmers will especially adore as it does indeed provide full water proofing, the Swimbuds MP3 deliver, as the name cleverly suggests, an interesting audio experience as they combine your headphones and MP3 player in one device. The IPX8 rating shows that they can be submerged up to 10 feet in pool water, fresh water, or salt water.
As you can directly upload music on them via USB, you won’t have to keep your phone in proximity when you run or swim to stream music. For you to be able to add as much music as you please, more precisely up to 2000 tunes, you are provided with 8 GB of storage. Furthermore, as the Swimbuds provide up to 7 hours of playback time, you are sure to finish your routine before the battery runs out.
With the purchase, you receive 11 ear bud tips in 4 different styles to make sure that you find the perfect fit for your ears. These styles include tree tips, fin tips, ergo tips, and round or mushroom tips. When it comes to backing, the manufacturer has it covered against defects for 1 year.
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- 8 GB of storage lets you store up to 2000 songs
- Impermeable up to 10 feet
- Provide up to 7 hours of playback time
- Come with 11 ear buds in 4 different styles
- Backed by a 1-year warranty
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| VERDICT
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Waterproof, wireless, and easy to use, you can store up to 2000 songs on the Swimbuds to enjoy music without actually having to connect to your phone for added convenience.
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The Tozo T10 boast a convenient in-ear design and, due to their IPX8 rating, can withstand continuous wear underwater for up to 30 minutes if you don’t exceed the 3.3-foot depth mark. Thus, no matter if you want to go for a swim or just do an intense workout session, water and sweat won’t be an issue and you will be able to listen to your favorite music.
They feature the Bluetooth 5.0 technology, which implies that they can support HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, and HCP. Furthermore, the headphones grant in-call stereo sound so that your conversations go smoothly, and provide a fast and stable transmission when used for streaming music off the phone. The 8-millimeter speaker driver provides a natural and authentic sound while amplifying the bass.
They come with a neat case that doesn’t only provide convenient storage, but quick charging as well. In fact, while a normal charge provides each ear bud with up to 3.5 hours of playback time, charging with the included charging case provides up to 9 hours of playback time. For your comfort, the ear buds feature gel-flexible silicone caps. Additionally, the manufacturer backs them against defects for 1 year from the moment of purchase.
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- Comes with a charging case that supports wireless charging
- IPX8 rating shows you can wear them continuously for 3 hours when submerged 3.3 feet under water
- Gel-flexible silicone ear caps ensure a comfortable fit
- Bluetooth 5.0 technology for a fast and stable transmission
- When the charging case is used, each ear bus can last for up to 9 hours of playback time
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Offering an authentic sound and powerful bass to make your experience more pleasant when you work out or swim and want to listen to music, the Tozo T10 make for quite a neat acquisition.
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Using state of the art acoustic components, the Senso are ideal for listening to music as they produce incredible sound quality. Best of all, they deliver this impressive sound output all while maintaining a cheap asking price. The comfortable fit they provide ensures you won’t feel any discomfort even after hours of listening to music with their help. Of course, we must mention the fact that they have an IPX-7 rating which makes them safe to wear even when you are swimming.
The long battery life is one of the aspects which greatly impressed us as when listening to music, they provide up to 8 hours of continuous entertainment until a recharge is required. When set on standby, the battery lasts for a staggering 240 hours. In addition, it only takes an hour and a half for the lithium polymer battery to charge, so you won’t waste much time on this boring task, being able to quickly return to your song list.
They feature the ingenious Noise Suppression technology which enhances music listening experience quality by blocking out external disruptive noises. Another mention worthy feature is the Bluetooth 4.1 tech that allows you to connect with other Bluetooth devices which are up to 30 feet away in order to stream music or radio off of them. Furthermore, the product is backed with a 1-year warranty by the manufacturing company.
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- Takes only one hour and a half for the battery to fully charge
- On a full charge, you are provided with up to 8 hours of continuous music listening time
- Ergonomic design and gel flex silicone ear buds design makes them truly comfortable to wear
- Features the Noise Suppression technology which focuses on the music you are listening, suppressing external noises which might downgrade the quality of your experience
- Great asking price makes it one of the most affordable entries on this market
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Feature-rich yet still affordable, the Senso are your go-to option if you want a qualitative music listening experience regardless of where you are, even at the pool, all without having to spend a fortune in order to enjoy this experience.
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Active people need ear buds that are able to keep up with their lifestyle, and the Edelin1 delivers just that. The IPX7 rating ensures that regardless of the type of activity that you will be performing, you will be able to listen to music or podcasts in peace. Another strong point boasted by them is the fact that they do not get tangled. Therefore, you won’t have to sit in fear that they might get tangled beyond repair when you put them in the pocket.
The headset uses the Bluetooth 4.1 connection that guarantees a fast data transfer and that allows you to connect to devices that are up to 30 feet away in order to listen to podcasts or music. Just like the other entries in our top, it is powered by a lithium-ion polymer battery. The charge time for this battery is approximately 1 hour and a half, and it delivers about 8 hours of continuous listening to music and about 6 hours of talking on the phone.
The multiple device connection feature allows the simultaneous connection to up to 2 different smart devices. It features a LED indicator light that announces you when the battery is running low on power so that you know to recharge it at the right moment. Furthermore, the manufacturer backs the product during the first year after you purchase it, so you won’t have to worry about paying to fix or replace it in this period.
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- Great asking price makes them quite affordable
- Comes with ear tips in 3 different sizes – small, medium, large
- Up to 8 hours of music listening
- Features a LED indicator which announces you when the battery is running out of power
- Comes with a cord management clip which ensures tangling or discomfort while wearing them won’t occur
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- A few customers report that the music skips when they do sudden head movements
- Not as reliable when it comes to sound quality as more expensive entries are
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Designed according to the latest standards in safety and innovation, these ear buds our one of our top recommendations. Their Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity allows data transfer and communication with ease, while the design endorses carefree use in the pool or when it rains. Best of all, the reasonable and low asking price makes them a real bargain.
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The flexible and snug fit provided makes them perfect for all active people who love music. The IPX7 rating ensures that you can listen to your favorite jams even during intense sweat sessions or when it’s raining outside, without any repercussions. To charge them, it takes only one hour and a half, and on a full charge, you are provided with up to 9 hours of continuous play.
As they feature the CVC 6.0 noise reduction technology, when you listen to music while wearing them, all external noise is blocked. The 33-foot wireless operating range ensures that you can go further away from your phone without the music being interrupted. They are Bluetooth 4.1 compatible, which makes them even more versatile in use.
The shallow in-ear design and soft memory foam on the ear tips ensure a secure fit all while maintaining comfort. As an extra perk, the manufacturing company backs them with a lengthy 18-month warranty.
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- IPX7 water resistance rating
- A full charge takes only one hour and a half
- You are provided with 7-9 hours of continuous play when the battery is full
- 33-foot operating range
- Backed by an 18-month warranty
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| VERDICT
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For the music lover who wants to maintain an active lifestyle, these IPX7 rated earbuds are a must-have. Not only do they come at a cheap price, but they provide up to 9 hours of continuous play when fully charged. Best of all, charging the battery takes only one hour and a half, so not a lot of time is wasted before they can be used again.
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Perfect for those who lead an active lifestyle, the Otium features the Bluetooth 4.1 technology, which implies that signal transmission is faster and more stable than ever before. This ultimately leads to lower power consumption so that you can use it for more hours, and a clearer, crisper sound quality to enjoy your favorite songs properly.
When set on standby, up to 240 hours will pass until a recharge is needed, while when talking about continuous use, the battery will last for 8 hours of continuous operation. What delights, even more, is the fact that it takes only 1.5 hours for the battery to fully charge, so you needn’t worry about wasting time before music listening sessions.
As it is IPX7 rated, you can wear it even when you know you will sweat heavily or the activity you will perform is going to involve water. It boasts a 30-foot range in open space, while when obstacles are involved the reach drops to 10 feet. Pairing with iOS, Android, or other smart devices which feature Bluetooth is done quickly. Your music is heard just as clearly no matter if you set it on a low or high volume setting. Furthermore, a 1-year warranty is provided for the product.
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- 30-foot range in open space and 10 feet when obstacles are standing in the way
- On a full charge, it plays songs for 8 hours continuously
- Takes only 1.5 hours for the battery to fully recharge
- IPX7 rated – you can submerge in water with them on
- Backed by a 1-year warranty
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- Not the best in terms of noise cancellation
- Not as durable as more expensive entries on the market
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Featuring the 4.1 Bluetooth technology which ensures a more stable signal and an increased transmission strength, the Otium are reasonably priced wearables that you can rely on when doing a wide range of activities, even ones where heavy sweating or direct contact with water is involved.
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The IPX7 rating along with the nano-coating of the earbuds makes them the perfect purchase for a person who wants to listen to music when swimming or doing intense workouts. What you will surely like is the fact that the battery used charges in only 2 hours, tops, so not a lot of time will be spent without them when their battery does deplete. Additionally, when fully charged, the battery provides 12 hours of listening time, which makes them perfect even for long flights where you want to relax and unwind, not hearing the annoying noise around you.
Due to the fact that they feature noise cancellation as well, the blocking of disruptive external noises is even further enhanced. The amazing treble and the deep bass are sure to impress you no matter the type of music that you usually like to listen to. The Bluetooth 4.1 technology that they feature allows a seamless synchronization to wireless devices such as tablets, Android smartphones, and iOS smartphones that are up to 33 feet away.
The on-ear volume controls allow you to change the volume, skip or shuffle songs, and answer or decline calls with ease. When it comes to the support offered by the manufacturer for them, know that they will be fixed or replaced free of charge during the first year after you purchase them.
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- CVC 6.0 noise suppression technology allows you to focus on the music you are listening to instead of environmental nuisances
- 360-degree adjustable ear hooks ensure they will sit secure behind your ears
- On a full charge, you can listen to music for up to 12 hours
- Wireless reception and transmission over a 33-foot range
- Selectable bass levels allow you to enjoy listening to music as you prefer
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- Some people have reported a rather uncomfortable feeling after wearing them for prolonged hours
- Call quality isn’t stellar
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In terms of pricing, it does not get better than these wearables. Furthermore, despite what you might think when you check out the price tag, they are actually quite qualitative, boasting an IPX7 rating and a secure design.
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Waterproof vs. Water Resistant Headphones
Some earbuds are listed as being
water resistant, while others are listed as
waterproof. To learn what differentiates them, continue to read this section of our article.
- Waterproof: When wearing them, you can confidently submerge in water for 30 minutes or so, knowing that they will not be affected by it. Of course, you must follow the instructions given in the manual that they come with – do not go deeper than it is recommended and do not stay longer than advised. Otherwise, the protective shield of the earbuds will suffer damage and they will lose their properties, even ceasing to function altogether in some cases.
- Water resistant: These earbuds are indeed able to resist contact with water, meaning that they will not be irreparably damaged if they fall in the pool when you swim. On the other hand, that is all that they boast when it comes to protection against water damage. Unfortunately, they cannot be worn when swimming or doing intense exercises that cause excessive sweating as they are not designed to resist contact with wet bodies.
Now that you know more about each type of earbuds, waterproof and water-resistant, it should be clear that waterproof models are the desirable option to go with when practicing swimming, intense workouts, or long running sessions, their resistance making them clearly superior.
- No Need to Keep the Phone Close to You
No matter the device that you have connected them through Bluetooth, whether it is a smartphone or a tablet, what is great is the fact that there won’t be a need to keep that specific streaming device in your proximity anymore. Seeing how you will probably wear them when you will be exercising or swimming, it would have been almost impossible to plug them in the device without destroying it anyway.
- Listen to Music When You Swim
Whether you are training for swimming contests or doing it for leisure, you will be able to listen to music even in the pool. This is a great benefit, especially if you are the type of person who needs to disconnect in order to reach your full potential. Obviously, you should check to not pass the amount of time recommended to keep them underwater to ensure that no damage will occur.
- Listen to Music When You Sweat
Working out and running are activities that cause people to sweat excessively. If you are a person who thrives to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, it is important for you to exercise daily and receive the needed rejuvenation. Classic headphones might have done a rather decent job at allowing you to listen to music when performing these activities, but excessive sweat caused them damage. With waterproof models, this is not an issue at all, so you can confidently wear them regardless of how sweaty you get.
- Take Your Music In the Shower
Are you truly passionate about music? Then you probably feel bad when it is time to take a shower, the silence inside the cabin overwhelming you. With these earbuds, you are able to take your favorite music with you in the shower without any problems. The concerts you hold when you are bathing are going to become a lot more entertaining and spectacular now that you will actually hear the lyrics and feel the rhythm.
- Superior Sound Quality
As they are specially designed for underwater use, they are able to deliver a crisp, clear sound every time, no matter what you are doing. When you are out of the water or when you are using them normally, not exercising or doing any physically demanding activity, the sound becomes even better, the quality blowing your mind. If you have ever owned regular earbuds, you will be stunned by the superiority of water-resistant models when it comes to the quality of the sound output.
- Long Lifespan
The shelf life of regular ear buds is short, but the same cannot be said about water resistant models, fortunately. The reason why they last longer is precisely due to their superior resistance to water, basically, nothing affecting them.
Making a pick is quite challenging as there are many elements that you must look into when making the purchase. Regardless of the budget that you set aside, you have to know right from the get-go that the quality of the product stands in its capability to resist water and sweat. Sure, the technologies and innovative features play an important role as well, but they are not the epicenter of the purchase but rather a bonus.
IP Code
The importance of the IP code stands in the fact that it rates the protection against water, thus showing you how well the device will act as time passes if you use it when swimming or exercising.
An IPX code of at least 7 is recommended – the reason why we recommend ignoring the first digit of the code is that it shows the protection against dust, which is irrelevant in this circumstance.
Battery Attributes – Charge Time, Talk Time, Listen Time
The second most important element that you must look into is
the battery, more precisely its attributes. The most important specs to check are the amount of time that it takes for it to fully charge, the amount of time that you can talk on the phones using the device, and the amount of time that you can use the device if the only action you are doing with it is listening to music.
- Charge time: A quality device should feature a rechargeable battery that takes between 1 and 2 hours to fully charge. As you can see, all of the models featured in our top have a great charge time, meaning that you do not have to wait around too much until they can be used again.
- Talk time: The talk time represents the amount of time that the battery will last until it is fully depleted if you use the headphones to answer calls. It is preferable for this spec to indicate a talk time of at least 6 hours to be sure that the investment you are making is a worthwhile one.
- Listening time: The listening time put at your disposal is probably the most important as it shows for how long you will be able to continuously listen to music until the battery’s power depletes. We recommend that you go for a model that offers a listen time of at least 8 hours.
Noise Cancellation
The noise canceling technology that the devices come with is more important than you could ever imagine as it basically blocks interfering external sounds. No matter the activity you perform when wearing them, this feature is a must-have as it ensures you will be able to focus on your music, not on the chattering of people around you. If you plan on training in the pool for a contest, for example, the feature comes in handy as it allows you to focus on improving your skills rather than have you distracted by others.
Convenient Volume Controls
The volume controls have to be located in a convenient manner to make it easy for you to not only turn the volume up or down, but to mute the headphones, take calls, reject incoming calls, and so on. Do not take this element lightly as you might end up displeased with the way you have to operate the earbuds.
The attributed IP code is the main indicator when it comes to quality. IP stands for Ingress Protection or International Protection, and it rates the protection that the earbuds – or other types of devices, like cameras, speakers, or mobile phones – have against water and dust. Obviously, the water resistance of the wearable is the most important aspect to look into as it is the reason why you are buying it in the first place – to listen to music underwater or when you are very sweaty.
The IP code is followed by two digits that show the conformity with predetermined conditions. When one of the digits is replaced with the letter X, it means that not enough data has been gathered for it to be assigned with a certain protection level. As you can see, most products featured in our top have the first digit replaced with the letter X. But this is not an issue as we are only interested in the waterproof aspect with them.
A common trait of all the selections that we listed as being the best is the fact that the second digit in the IP rating is 7. This means that complete protection against water is provided as long as the submersion does not exceed 3 and a half feet and the duration of the submersion does not pass 30 minutes.
| Criteria |
Impact/Importance |
Best Product |
| Design – Type, Weight |
Type: As you have already noticed, all of the models featured in our top boast a behind the ear design. Combined with their impressive and ergonomic manufacturing, they become incredibly comfortable to wear, even if you are going to use them for many hours each day.
Weight: The weight of the wearable devices is another point of interest as it shows how comfortable they will feel after prolonged use. As you can see, all of the ear buds in our top weigh between 0.03 pounds and 0.06 pounds, so they are truly lightweight, not inconveniencing you in any way. |
Plantronics BackBeat FIT, TrendHolders A-1, Edelin Edelin1, Hussar Magicbuds2 |
| Waterproof Rating |
The rating received by the products is the element that we focused on the most. After all, these devices are meant to be worn in improper conditions that involve sweat or water, so their resistance to these elements is vital. |
Plantronics BackBeat FIT, TrendHolders A-1, Edelin Edelin1, Hussar Magicbuds2 |
| Battery Charge Time |
The amount of time that it takes for the battery to charge is another point of interest as it shows how much time you will waste not using the ear buds when the battery is depleted and it needs to be recharged. |
Edelin Edelin1 |
| Listen Time |
The listening time represents the amount of time that you can continuously listen to music when wearing the headphones before the battery’s power is depleted. The longer the listening time, the better as you get to enjoy the device for a longer amount of time. |
TrendHolders A-1, Hussar Magicbuds2 |
| Wireless Distance |
The wireless distance represents the maximum distance that you can keep from the device that is wirelessly transmitting music to the ear buds. It is best for the distance to be as long as possible so that you won’t have the unpleasant surprise of interrupting the connection when you’re doing laps in the swimming pool and you stray too far away from your smartphone, for example. |
Plantronics BackBeat FIT, Hussar Magicbuds2 |
| Quick Charge Technology |
The quick charge technology gives you the possibility to enjoy extra music listening time after a short period of charging. In the chaotic world that we live in, time is of the essence, reason why this feature comes in handy more than you could ever imagine. |
Plantronics BackBeat FIT |
| Low Battery Warning |
To make sure that you won’t end up forgetting to recharge the battery before you hit the gym or go on a long flight, you are announced of the battery’s state of power depletion through a LED indicator light. To put it in simple words, when the battery runs out of juice, the LED light announces you that it’s time to recharge. |
Edelin Edellin1 |
3 Brands Worth Buying From
- Plantronics
What makes Plantronics a brand highly recognizable is the fact that it has been on the market for a longer time than most companies. Since it has been founded over 50 years ago, it has been at the forefront of the market, designing, manufacturing, and selling high-end audio devices. Not many brands can brag with the success and longevity that Plantronics can, winning over customers year after year by producing new and better quality devices than before.
- Alpatronix
The inception of this company occurred with the birth of smartphones. As the founders realized what an opportunity they have in front of them, they simply couldn’t pass it. Now, Alpatronix is one of the most renowned manufacturers of mobile gadgets of all kinds, including headphones that are waterproof.
- Edelin
Edelin surprised everyone as it changed the way people listen to music in everyday situations and when trying to stay active, all with the simple distribution of the Edelin1. Designed for those who lead an active life, the wearable design makes for the ideal companion as it withstands contact with sweat or water.
